I have been touched by angels. “Touched by An Angel” is more than just a show on the Hallmark Channel in which the late great Della Reese starred. (And by the way, our friend Carolee Mayne wrote and performed music for this popular TV show.) Yes, I have been touched by angels. As far as I know, I have never seen an angel, in the flesh, so to speak.

This weekend, I have the opportunity to discuss the glory of the Christmas story through the Gospel of Luke. I am not ashamed to confess that I need Christmas this year as much as any other time in my life. In fact, the whole world desperately needs the simple truth of the Christmas story.

This Sunday, after the 11:00 am service, there is going to be a Christmas Cookie Decorating Party. This is going to be one of those simple, fun events for everyone. A time of building genuine friendships. Kids get to decorate the cookies and the adults get to eat them -- just kidding. There will be plenty of cookies for the whole Cathedral family -- singles, kids who come without families and young adults with bottomless pit stomachs. And even those of us who choose to not sample the cookies. We will be able to explain why Christmas cookies are not food-- they are friends.

Enough of my weak attempts at humor. The point is that the worship leading up to Christmas is a very special season we call Advent. It is life transforming as we study the Gospel of Christmas. Pastor Becca started with “Christmas Lights the Night in the Gospel of John.” Pastor Linda continued by sharing the Christmas story in the Gospel of Mark by letting us know that every time someone meets Jesus it is Christmas-- a promise fulfilled. And now I get to share with you the bold claims of this beautiful story of Christmas from the Gospel of Luke. It is my prayer that your faith will be strengthened as we discuss:

The virgin birth of Jesus (what does this mean)

Angels - Are they real?

Why the humility of the manger scene?

The historicity of Christmas. Can a thinking person consider this ancient story as true?

It’s my observation that never before in the history of the United States, have more people doubted the practical truth of Christmas. Can I have 20 minutes of your time to attempt to strengthen your hope, that just maybe, the Christmas story is true? I promise to consider this while treating those who choose to believe Christmas is just a nice story, with dignity, as we consider the claims of Luke in this incredible world-changing event.

Please join me this weekend as you can tell I am very excited about this message.